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Mustafa Sonmez is a Turkish economist and writer. He has worked as an economic commentator and editor for more than 30 years and authored some 30 books on the Turkish economy, media and the Kurdish question. On Twitter: @mustfsnmz
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![A man waits in front of a currency exchange agency as a screen shows rates near Grand bazaar, in Istanbul, on September 24, 2020. - Turkey's central bank on September 24, 2020 raised its main interest for the first time since September 2018, boosting the rate by two percentage points to help the lira recover from historic lows. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/02/GettyImages-1228683613.jpg/GettyImages-1228683613.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=b0CnMPQe)
![A man holds his children near their home in a deserted street near the Suleymaniye mosque in Istanbul during a week-end curfew aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus on December 6, 2020. - Under the new restrictions beginning from December 1, a curfew will be imposed on weekdays from 9:00 pm. to 5:00 am. Over the weekend the lockdown will last from 9:00 pm Friday until 5:00 am on Monday. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/02/GettyImages-1229979892.jpg/GettyImages-1229979892.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=9ondEzt4)
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![People pass in front of a crypto currency "Bitcoin Change" shop near the Grand Bazaar on December 17, 2020 in Istanbul. - Leading virtual currency bitcoin on 16 December traded above $20,000 for the first time following a sustained run higher in recent weeks. Bitcoin reached a record-high $20,398.50 before pulling back to $20,145, which was still an intra-day gain of nearly four percent. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/01/GettyImages-1230175108.jpg/GettyImages-1230175108.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=NsNMuCZY)
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![ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JULY 29: Detail as a man counts Turkish Lira at a currency exchange office on July 29, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish Lira remains under pressure after briefly trading at a record low against the euro of 8.17 on Tuesday amid investor concerns around Turkey's foreign denomination debt and potential EU sanctions. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/12/GettyImages-1262334668.jpg/GettyImages-1262334668.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=mrx_D9Wu)
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![A view of the construction site of Turkey's first nuclear power plant 'Akkuyu', pictured during the opening ceremony in the Mediterranean Mersin region on April 3, 2018.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the $20 billion dollar Akkuyu nuclear power plant though a video link from Ankara where Putin is on an official visit. / AFP PHOTO / DOGAN NEWS AGENCY / IBRAHIM MESE / Turkey OUT (Photo credit should read IBRAHIM MESE/AFP via G](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/12/GettyImages-941405940.jpg/GettyImages-941405940.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=yyOOtB1f)
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![ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 09: A man exchanges money at a currency exchange shop on November 09, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, the son-in-law of President Erdogan who has been in the role for five years, resigned Sunday citing health reasons. The country's currency has plunged 30 percent this year. After the resignation of Berat Albayrak, Turkish lira gained 3% against $ following the resignation. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/11/GettyImages-1284723571.jpg/GettyImages-1284723571.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=ClTHxaV9)
![Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech following a cabinet meeting, in Ankara, on June 9, 2020. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/11/GettyImages-1219008411.jpg/GettyImages-1219008411.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=EUhGYz8J)
Mustafa Sonmez is a Turkish economist and writer. He has worked as an economic commentator and editor for more than 30 years and authored some 30 books on the Turkish economy, media and the Kurdish question. On Twitter: @mustfsnmz